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ARVILLA SPRINGER MARKLE, OF OSKALOOSA, IOWA.

ABDOIVIINAL BAN DAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,920, dated October 4, 1898.

Application filed November 8, 1897. Serial No. 657,820. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARVILLA SPRINGER MARKLE a citizen of the United States, residing at Oskaloosa, in the county of Mahaska and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal 'Supports and Obesity-Bands; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an abdominal supporter and obesity-band adapted to be used as a support in pregnancy and as a corrective appliance in the reduction of obesity or ab'- normal development of the abdomen and allied parts and in the treatment of prolapsus of the uterus and of the bladder, anteversion, retroversion, and all kindred disorders.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.y

To this end the invention consists in an appliance of this character combining the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, and particularly set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is a front elevational view of my improved abdominal supporter -and obesity-band, illustrating its manner of use. Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the same; Fig. 3, an outer side view of the device removed and in extended position; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail perspective view of the rubber-tube support, illustrating the manner of application. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the zigzag clasp, to Which each end of the rubber tube is attached. The improved abdominal support and obesity-band is made of the proper shape or configuration to conform as approximately as possible to the contour of the waist, hips, and abdomen of the body when applied. It embodies in its construction two parts or sections l 2, each `consisting of a back piece 3 and a front piece 4, which in practice is adapted to bear upon the front of the body from the waist down to the lower end of the abdo-V men. These parts are preferably made of cotton-ducking or some other suitable fabric possessing strength with a sufficient amount of flexibility.

Each back piece 3 is stiffened at its rear edge by a vertical facing-strip 5, preferably of soft pliant leather, sewed to its outer side and provided with eyelets 6 for the passage of an elastic lacing-stay 7, which unites the two'sections l 2 at the rear. For connecting the sections at the front hooks and eyes, as herein shown, or any other suitable fastening devices may be provided upon the meeting edges of the front pieces 4. This facing-strip 5 is formed with pockets for the reception of reinforcing ribs or stays 8 and serves as a ybrace to bear upon and support the spinal column as well as to assist the latter in supporting the trunk of the body.

The front and back pieces of each section are connected from a point about midway of their length to their lower ends by an interposed gore 9, consisting of a broad heavy elastic band, which bears upon the side of the hip and acts as a reinforcement for the front piece to assist the latter in sustaining the weight of the abdomen. This hip-band constitutes an im portantfeature of the support, as it not only conforms to the contour of the hip and sustains the front piece, but provides an effective comparatively rigid or unyielding stay at a point where almost, but not quite, complete rigidity is needed. Above the hip-band the front and back pieces are connected by elastic straps 10, which possess a higher degree of elasticity than said hipbands and are adapted to yield under less tension. These strips in practice bear against and rest upon the upper portion of the hip and permit the upper portion of the support to have ample freedom of movement to accommodate for the movements of the upper portion of the body. Thusit will be seen that while freedom of movement of the body is not interfered With the parts under treatment are firmly supported and maintained in their normal positions against accidental displacement by the body movements.

A n abdominal belt ll is sewed or otherwise rigidly secur'ed at one end to the section 1 and is provided at its free end with a hook or clasp IOO 12. The free end of this belt is adapted to be passed through the loops 13 and extended across` the abdomen and secured by en gaging its clasp with a ring or loop 14 on the section 2. The function of this belt is to press the abdomen and contiguous parts of the body upwardly and inwardly and reinforce the lower end of the abdominal supporter. It is especially useful and desirable in the advanced stages of pregnancy and in the treatment of obesity, when the abdomen is very heavy.

For supporting a pessary or pads or other corrective appliances for the treatment of rupture or prolapsus uteri I provide a rubber tube 15, which is applied in a novel and effective manner. ,One end of this tube in use is knotted or looped and engaged with a pivoted buckle-hook 16 on the back piece 3 of the section l, and is passed around to the front beneath the privates and suspended at its central portion lf in approximately triangular or V form immediately in front of the pudendum from similar pivoted buckle-hooks 17 on the lower ends of the front pieces 4 of both sections 1 2. The opposite end of the tube is then passed back beneath the privates and engaged with a clasp 1S on the back piece of the section 1. This clasp is shown in detail in Fig. 5, and consists of a single piece 0f wire bent upon itself at one end to form a loop and thence extended in zigzag shape to form a series of parallel spring-arms 18'. The end of the tube is threaded through these arms, as shown in Fig. 3, and is thereby firmly clamped against withdrawal. By grasping the exposed end of the tube and drawing upwardly any slack which exists in the tube may be readily and conveniently taken up. The tube 15 being elastic throughout is adapted to give or yield under pressure and adjust itself to any position the wearer may assume, does not chate the parts, and may be worn without annoyance or inconvenience.

Each section of the support may be provided, if desired, with hose-supporters 19.

The manner in which my improved abdominal support and obesity-band is applied to the body is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In'all cases the device is to be worn over the underwear, and also over the corsets when used for reducing the size of the abdomen and lengthening the waist. It may be used by both sexes when treating rupture or obesity of the abdomen.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that my invention provides a corrective support and obesity-band which closely conforms to the figure and has no protruding parts to mar or distort the appearance of the dress and which, while allowing ample freedom of movement of the body, firmly supports and retains the parts under treatment in their normal positions.

l-laving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

An abdominal support and obesity-band, comprising in its construction two parts or sections laced together at their rear edges and provided with engaging members at their front edges, each section consisting of a front piece and a back piece of inelastic material, a broad, heavy, elastic hip-band connecting the lower ends of the front and back pieces, a series of elastic hip-straps connecting the upper ends of the said front and back pieces and adapted to yield under less tension than the hip-band, whereby the upper portion of the support is adapted to readily accommodate itself to the movements of the body of the wearer, while the lower portion thereof firmly holds the parts under treatment in place, loops secured to each of the front parts near their lower meeting edges, an abdominal belt joined to one back piece about midway the length thereof, passing through the loops and removably secured to the middle part of the other back piece, hooks on the lower rear corners of the front pieces, a zigzag-shaped clasp on one back piece, and a pliable rubber supporting-tube connected at one end to the other back piece and adapted to be passed forward between the thighs and looped upon the hooks and then passed backward between the thighs and engaged by its other end in the clasp to form a triangular or V-shaped support, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARV-ILLA. SPRINGER MARKLE.

Xiritnesses:

ARLETTA GLASS, MARGARET WRIGHT.

IOO 

